Russel rides a 12-foot-tall bird recognizable as Kevin from the movie Up as Carl Fredricksen follows behind him with balloons during the Pixar Play Parade on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland in Anaheim. Disneyland maintained its place last year as the world’s second most popular theme park, according to industry figures. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Disneyland — the world’s first-ever theme park — was No. 2 last year in total attendance, holding its position steady as the second most popular park on the planet while Universal Studios Hollywood saw attendance spike 12 percent.

Disneyland had 18.3 million visits during the annual reporting period. Despite price increases, increases and a 2016 dip in attendance, visits to the Anaheim park climbed 2 percent last year.

In 2017, Universal Studios properties were Disney’s top competitor, earning three of the world’s top 25 slots. In Southern California, Universal Studios Hollywood attendance increased by nearly 1 million visits during the reporting period, to 9.1 million — an unusually high increase, almost certainly due to the popularity of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” which opened in April 2016.

“Intellectual property is what is really driving people to the parks,” said Matt Roseboom, editor and publisher of Attractions Magazine, a fan publication based in Orlando, referring to people’s desire to visit theme parks that reflect characters they’ve already come to love through books and movies. “Competition is great for guests attending the parks. Harry Potter just blew everyone away with its level of detail. You were immersed in the experience.”

Locally, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park had 4 million visits — up 0.5 percent. It did not make the list of top world parks but ranked 10th in North America. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia had 3.4 million, ranked 16th in North America and up 1 percent, according to the report. Six Flags and Knott’s Berry Farm officials declined to comment on the attendance numbers.

Projected light bathes Hogwarts Castle in holiday cheer animation for “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”. The light show will take place daily from Nov. 24 to Jan. 7 at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Po celebrates the opening of the all-new DreamWorks Theatre featuring “Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest” at Universal Studios Hollywood. A press preview was held at the theater Wednesday, June 14. The attraction, which features an all-new 4K video adventure, officially opens to the public on Friday, June 15. (Photo by David Crane, Daily News/SCNG)

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The “Finding Nemo” Submarine Voyage, the Monorail, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland in Anaheim. Disneyland maintained its place last year as the world’s second most popular theme park, according to industry figures. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The first riders take on Six Flags Magic Mountain’s latest thrill ride, CraZanity, the world’s tallest pendulum ride. At a record-breaking 170-feet in the air, the massive giant disk reaches speeds up to 75 miles-per-hour, as it whips back and forth on a four-minute ride. (Photo by David Crane, Daily News/SCNG)

Roaring Rapids is one of three water rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain. (Courtesy of Six Flags Magic Mountain)

Knott’s Berry Farm remained one of the most popular theme parks in North America last year. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm.)

Visitors at Knott’s Berry Farm ride the new HangTime rollercoaster during it’s first day of public operation in Buena Park on Friday, May 11, 2018. The new coaster brings riders up 150 feet, holds them for several seconds, then drops them almost straight down. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Visitors at Knott’s Berry Farm ride the new HangTime rollercoaster during it’s first day of public operation in Buena Park on Friday, May 11, 2018. The new coaster brings riders up 150 feet, holds them for several seconds, then drops them almost straight down. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Disney’s other park in Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort — Disney California Adventure — ranked 13th in the world overall, with 9.6 million visits, up 3 percent from the previous reporting year. Disney also held the No. 1 spot in the world — the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

“That’s just how much people love Disney,” Roseboom said. “They keep raising the prices and people keep paying and paying.”

Disney does not release attendance figures or comment on them, but the international association’s data is generally recognized as the most accurate reflection available of its members’ popularity. It annually ranks the world’s top amusement parks, with most of the top slots typically held by parks owned or licensed by the Walt Disney Co.

Martin Lewison, an expert on theme park admission prices and assistant professor at Farmingdale State College in New York, said that Disney has to “keep an eye on Universal in the rearview mirror.”

Universal Studios Hollywood has added and revamped attractions in the park and at its adjacent CityWalk shopping and entertainment area. The park added nighttime light shows at Hogwarts Castle, including a Christmas-themed production, last year, and in June opened the DreamWorks Theatre attraction.

“Disney is the leader, but there’s nothing certain in this world,” Lewison said. However, he added that Disney is the “iPhone of theme parks” that has enduring appeal because of its quality and willingness to invest in new experiences.

“You can certainly see the difference in attendance, for example, at a Six Flags park versus Disney, in terms of capital investment,” Lewison said. “Before Tokyo DisneySea, (ranked No. 5 in the world) no one had ever spent a billion dollars on a theme park before, and it shows.”

Last year, SeaWorld San Diego remained the 19th most popular park in North America, according to the report, but attendance was down 14 percent. SeaWorld’s CEO stepped down earlier this year after continued losses and attendance has suffered since the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” about orcas in captivity. The park announced in 2017 it would no longer breed the animals or use them in shows.

“I think (the attendance decline) is worse in California because people there are more conscious of the issues with the whales,” Roseboom said.

Attendance numbers for Legoland in Carlsbad were not disclosed.

Top Southern California Theme Parks

1. Disneyland, 18.3 million visits, ranked No. 2 in the world and No. 2 in North America. Up 2 percent.

Marla Jo Fisher was a workaholic hard news reporter before she adopted two children from foster care at age 46, picked up a scruffy dog along the way and somehow managed to keep them all alive, at least so far. She now writes the Frumpy Middle-Age Mom humor column that appears in the Orange County Register weekly. Due to her status as the cheapest person alive, she also writes about deals and bargains for the Register, including her Cheapo Travel column which also runs in newspapers around the country. When she's not having a nervous breakdown, she's usually traveling somewhere cheaply and writing about it.